Chapter 2 - The Master Wing
The master wing of the Moretti mansion was a forbidden zone. For the eight months I had worked as an assistant housekeeper, no staff member was permitted beyond the carved mahogany doors without Vincent’s personal biometric clearance. It was rumored to be a fortress of bulletproof glass, dark velvet, and ancient family secrets.
Now, I found myself sitting on a plush leather sofa inside Vincent’s private library, wrapped in a heavy cashmere blanket. A private physician—a quiet, professional woman named Dr. Aris—was carefully stitching a tiny cut near my hairline.
Across the room, little Lily was sitting on a massive mahogany desk, happily swinging her legs in her pink Velcro shoes.
Nine-month-old Enzo was in her lap. The baby was laughing, his tiny hands grabbing at the ears of Lily’s stuffed rabbit. For a child who had been screaming in agony an hour ago, he looked completely transformed, his dark eyes—so like his father’s—shining with delight.
Vincent stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the rain beat against the glass. He had removed his suit jacket, rolling his crisp white shirt sleeves up to his elbows, revealing arms patterned with dark, intricate tattoos—symbols of his family’s bloodline and power.
Dr. Aris finished tying off the stitch and stepped back. “She has a mild concussion, Mr. Moretti. No skull fracture, but she needs rest. I’ve administered a local anti-inflammatory.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Vincent said without turning. “Ensure Marco gives you a security escort back to your clinic.”
Once the doctor left, the heavy library door clicked shut, leaving only the soft crackle of the fireplace and the sound of the children playing.
I tried to stand up. “Mr. Moretti... I should take Lily back to the staff cottage. I need to wash the kitchen linen—”
“Sit down, Maya,” Vincent commanded smoothly, turning to face me.
I froze, sinking back into the soft leather.
Vincent walked over to his desk, picked up a crystal glass half-filled with amber scotch, and took a slow sip. His gaze moved from Lily, who was gently patting Enzo’s back, to me.
“How long have you known about the sedative?” he asked.
“I didn't know for sure until today,” I answered honestly, my voice still raspy. “I noticed Enzo was unusually lethargic every morning around ten. Norah always claimed he was taking his morning nap. But today... I came in early because I forgot my staff keys in the pantry. I saw Norah holding the red-tagged bottle. When I tried to take it from her... someone struck me from behind.”
Vincent’s eyes narrowed into slits of liquid steel. “Did you see who struck you?”
“No,” I admitted, touching the bandage on my head. “It happened too fast. But it wasn't Norah. Norah was standing in front of me.”
Vincent set his glass down with a sharp clack. “Which means there is a second person in this house working against my son.”
He walked over to where I sat, towering over me. The sheer physical presence of the man was overwhelming—he smelled of expensive sandalwood, rain, and cold leather.
“You protected my heir,” Vincent said softly. “While my paid staff poisoned him and my fiancée looked the other way.”
“Lily protected him,” I corrected, looking over at my daughter. “She’s the one who smelled the medicine.”
Vincent looked at Lily. A rare, almost imperceptible softening occurred around the corners of his mouth. He stepped over to the desk, reached into his drawer, and pulled out a small, velvet-lined box.
He opened it, revealing a golden pocket watch engraved with the Moretti crest.
He offered it to three-year-old Lily.
Lily blinked, her small hand reaching out tentatively to touch the shiny gold surface. “Is it a toy?”
“It is a token of honor, little one,” Vincent said gravely. “In my family, when someone saves a Moretti, they are granted a life debt. This watch means that whenever you or your mother are in need, every gun in this city belongs to you.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Mr. Moretti, please... that’s too much. We are just servants—”
“You are no longer servants,” Vincent cut me off, turning his intense gray gaze directly onto mine. “As of this morning, you are Enzo’s primary guardian. You and Lily will occupy the suite adjacent to the nursery in the master wing.”
My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. “I can't live in the master wing! What about Miss Vale? What about the rest of your organization?”
May you like
Vincent stepped into my space, leaning down until his dark face was mere inches from mine.
“Miss Vale does not rule this house,” Vincent murmured, his thumb brushing lightly against the edge of my jaw, sending a sudden, intoxicating electric shock straight down my spine. “I do. And from this day forward, no one touches you or your daughter ever again.”
